Languages

Norwood Primary School introduced Spanish into its curriculum in September 2010. We greatly value the importance of early language learning and we believe that in today’s international and multicultural society, it is essential that young people develop skills and attitudes that enable them to communicate with, understand and respect other cultures.

Our Aims

To broaden the cultural awareness of the pupils and to foster positive attitudes to foreign language learning, to speakers of other languages and a tolerant sympathetic approach to other cultures and civilisations To enable the pupils to acquire knowledge and skills in Spanish with particular emphasis on speaking and listening

To capitalise on the ability of young pupils to rapidly acquire passive and active knowledge of Spanish

Where possible and relevant to embed Spanish into the main primary curriculum

To make language learning interesting and relevant by linking it to the outside world through links to schools abroad and language related events

To actively encourage the pupils to participate and enjoy the language activities creating confident learners of another language

To seek to immerse the pupils during lessons in the target language

For the school to be able to continue to deliver the curriculum for primary Spanish with ongoing support from class teachers and the local high school

To be a source of expertise and innovative practice upon which other schools may draw

Norwood employs a specialist Spanish teacher to ensure consistency throughout the school. It is taught weekly in Years R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and sessions last between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on year group. Spanish is mainly taught in isolation, but is practiced in all areas of the curriculum.

Teachers model Spanish pronunciation and vocabulary in class work and their daily routines, and appropriate vocabulary is displayed in every classroom as a reference point for both pupils and staff.